Southport fishing Report

[Robja]

Well we kept checking the weather throughout the week and it went from crappy to fishable back to crappy. Lyndon had given me a fish story earlier in the week and our plan was to head to the horseshoe. Trying to get bait on the beach was testy so we decided to look for some inside at a super secret spot a friend told us about. I guess is was so secret the bait forgot to show up there. Headed down the ditch to look for bait at Lockwood or Shallotte. Decided to get a box of cigar minnows just in case. We had decided to head south since NOAA report showed better seas.(ha ha) Headed our Shallotte inlet going to 390/390 where we had caught fish before. WARNING: Shallotte inlet is crap. we hit bottom twice going out on 3/4 tide. Not sure whats up with the bouys but one red can is practically on the beach which meant taking 5 footers broadside. Not way we went.

Slow going to the fishing spot as the swells were a good 4-5.Heard from several of the boats they had limited out on kings. All we managed was 5 cut offs and one brown marlin.

Day one Zero.

Decided to try it again Sunday. Managed to catch bait about 50 yards off the beach without throwing the guy off the front. Headed to 15 mi rock against the large swells. Slow going again. Best we could manage was about 20 kts The boat handled the 4 to 5 footers pretty well. The occasional 6 was a ball buster.

When I dropped the first bait in the water a king hit it in the prop wash but missed the hooks started peeling off line in free spool hoping king would return. Had several cutoffs in next 20 min. Even had one king sky twice with the pogie in his mouth but he never got the hook. I landed the first king on the short line after freespooling the line after he cut the bait into. Took a while to get him in since we couldn't stop due to the waves. Friend leaned over with the gaff only to miss and drop the gaff. I hooked it with my line and he was able to reach over and get it then stick the fish.

Bite seemed to dry up so me moved 2 mi further out to the shark hole. Immediately after getting the bait in the water a king skyed on the left short in the propwash. 15 min later we had a nice 28lbr in the box. had quite a few short stirkes then a smoker hit the top flat. After clearing the lines finally got the fish close to the boat but just out of gaff range Looked to be mid to upper 30's. He decided to to make a last run to which he pulled the hooks. At least we weren't zeros again. Decided to head in before the wind shifted out of the north. We had hoped to limit out but at least we got something.

Only other boats who decided to test the waters on Sunday.
Picture 549.jpg
Picture 548.jpg

Managed to keep this sucker out of the boat. Last time we had one he decided to attach hisself to the cockpit deck and it was a bear trying to pry him off.Picture 553.jpg

Decided to give our pelican friends the dead bait to keep them happy.

[Tenacious]

OMG I think I'm going to pass out! A fishing report w/ pics!!!! You have found the light, maybe not the fish but those are what makes us all better in the long run. Helluva a report!! Thanks JAY

[clt_capt]

A FISHING REPORT??? WTF??

WOW - Glad you got a chance to get out and wet a line.


Suckers are good fun with an unsuspecting newbie - Just stick it to their bare leg or arm... Let the fun begin

You shouldn't be throwing scraps off the cleaning table - it attracts alligators...

[WAHOONBOX]

I TOO AM IMPRESSED! AND THE PICS ARE ABSOLUTELY SUPERB! THANKS FOR THE REPORT!


I SWEAR....I NEED TO GET YOU OUT ON THE RUNOFF EVEN IF I HAVE TO FOOT THE FREIGHT MYSELF! I PROMISE NOT TO DROP MY GAFF.

[SeaBiscuit]

Some fine photographs Robja and a good report. Y'all did much better than everyone who didn't go.
Cheers,
SeaBiscuit

[merry marlin]

Way to go Jay, you got a king as the MM crew got close to some but didn't finalize...
What camera do you have , those are some cool pictures.
MM

[Robja]

Originally Posted by merry marlin

Way to go Jay, you got a king as the MM crew got close to some but didn't finalize...
What camera do you have , those are some cool pictures.
MM

Some el cheapo Hp camera the Company gives us. I have decided to give up on the 35mm since the airports did a good job at ruining most of my film when I went to Equador. Can't decide between a Nikon D5000 or the D90. Got enough points to get a free one but with the D5000 I can get the camera plus a telephoto.

[gottaflylee]

Sweetttttt, pictures.... glad to see you got out. Saw that ship heading out Sunday afternoon, it was on the large size. Glad you got some fishies to play for ya...

[Capt. Lyndon]

Jay, pretty work and awesome pics my friend. We fished the shoe and the sharkhole on sat, with decent results.